The 'lazy' 340 had to come out, so we took it out, tore it down and went through it. It's not lazy anymore"--Dan Picklo
Fast Facts:
'74 Plymouth Duster
Owned by: Dan Picko, Fraser, Michigan
Mopar Power
- Engine: Scott Koffel (at Koffel's Place, Huron, Ohio) took an iron-block 340 bored .030-inch over, then fitted it with Ross pistons and an Eagle stroker crank and rods, making it a 416-incher, Heads are CNC-ported Mopar Performance W5s with Comp Cams valve springs and Harland Sharp rockers. Comp Cams also supplied the high-lift/long-duration roller camshaft. Ignition is an MSD billet setup with a 7ALbox, Blaster coil and "Fire Core" wires. Exhaust is tti 17⁄8-inch headers, and nothing more.
- Transmission: Scott Foster (one of Dan's "Mopar Mafia" teammates, built the 727 at his Sidney, Ohio, shop with a Turbo Action 91⁄2-inch, 4,500-stall converter, Rick Allison transmission parts and a Turbo Action shifter.
- Rearend: A 4.56-geared, Moser-axled Dana 60.
Sure Grip
- Suspension: (Front) Restored original '74 Duster with Moog replacement parts and Chassis Engineering shocks. (Rear) Caltracs with Strange Engineering shocks
- Brakes: Wilwood discs in front, factory Mopar drums in back.
- Wheels and Tires: Hoosiers and Weld Wheels at all four corners: 15 x 3 front wheels wear 26x4.5x15 skinnies, while the 15 x 8-inch rear wheels wear 28x10x15s.
High Impact
- Body: Original '74 Duster unibody wears AAR Fiberglass hood and front bumper, and '73 Duster front bumper brackets. Rear bumper, all glass and all other body metal, is OEM.
- Paint: Dan sprayed on the Akzo Nobel Frosty Green Iridescent paint, and painted on the "Gold Duster"-style striping. The OEM vinyl top was in good shape, so it stayed on.
- Interior: Dan and Jack Meyers fabricated the chrome-moly cage, while Jeff Dawson stitched a pair of race seats with Legendary repro vinyl to make them match the original back seat. Jack also fabbed the electronics panel, which fits up under the dash.